Arabica and Robusta simply refer to the species of coffee tree. Coffee Arabica is believed to be the first species of coffee to be cultivated, being grown in southwest Arabia for well over 1000 years. The Arabica trees are difficult to cultivate and each tree can produce anywhere from 0.5–5 kg of dried beans per year, depending on the trees individual character and the climate that season.

It takes 225 – 275 kg of coffee beans to create about a 45 kg bag of green coffee. Though commonly called a “berry”, the fruit is a drupe 10 –15m min diameter, maturing bright red to purple and typically containing two seeds (the coffee ‘bean’). Sometimes a third seed or one seed, a pea-berry is produced in the fruits at tips of the branches. These beans are the most sought-after because they come from a coffee cherry producing only one coffee bean (all other types of coffee cherry produce two beans). Pea-berries are round in shape, as opposed to the usual oval.  Arabica coffee beans taste sweet & tangy.

The Robusta trees are easier to grow and maintain, are more disease resistant and produce a higher yield. Typically grown at lower elevations Robusta beans contain more caffeine (30-40%) and are harsher and more astringent in flavour. This type of coffee is typically added to other beans to bulk up the coffee to achieve a lower price or to produce different tastes to the coffee you drink.

All coffee beans are graded. The AAA grading denotes the highest quality bean. The higher the grade of bean the more expensive the coffee is to produce and the more the consumer is guaranteed a better quality coffee. By blending different types of high quality beans from different regional areas various unique flavours can be achieved. All coffee beans used at Colin James Fine Foods are rated between A and AAA so you can be assured that the coffee you purchase at our store will be made from the highest and best quality beans available.